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16
Extract from Hansard Report of 13/10/38
STATISTICS.While on the subject of economics I may mention my intention to create a Statistical Branch of the Colonial Secretariat. In many respects the statistical information at the disposal of this Government is deficient or unscientifically arranged; there is a serious lack of machinery for the co-ordination of such statistics as exist, and in nearly every case these are crude. In such circumstances it might with some truth be alleged that figures are given to us to conceal the facts. The first-rate importance of well-digested and well-correlated statistics to a Colony, which is so largely dependent upon commerce and has, for example, such grave population problems as Hong Kong, is indisputable and the move will, I hope, be appreciated locally.
Statistical Branch
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Quod 19